Posted: 5/20/2011 7:12:37 PM EDT
| what is best, deck connected to the house or as a stand alone? i am leaning towards a stand alone because the builder wants to remove the new siding to connect to the house. house is new and not even slept in it yet. |
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Quoted:
walk out on from the house but the deck builder want to attach it to the house by removing siding then replacing it. not sure if i like that. he said he can do a floating type deck but really doesnt want to. You want to attach it to the house. As the house settles and the deck settles, free standing decks tend to move away from the main structure. Connecting them is no big deal, as is removing the siding. |
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Quoted:
walk out on from the house but the deck builder want to attach it to the house by removing siding then replacing it. not sure if i like that. he said he can do a floating type deck but really doesnt want to. Listen to the builder. He may know a thing or two 
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Quoted:
walk out on from the house but the deck builder want to attach it to the house by removing siding then replacing it. not sure if i like that. he said he can do a floating type deck but really doesnt want to. Wow. You didn't actually tell him that, did you? There are so many reasons... Just allow your builder to do it the right way. |
| Where I live attaching to the house requires a permit, approved design and an inspection. Since you have a builder doing it I'm sure none of those are issues though. If you go free floating make sure the ground has been adequately compacted and that the footers are poured at the correct depth and size. It seems like a lot of people are pushing the precast foundations now that sit on top of the grade but I have never used them and IMO they seem like a poor corner cutting gimmick. Again I have never used them though. If you are attaching to the house make sure to agree the builders request: remove the siding at the attachment point. |
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Part of the reason that your builder wants to remove your siding is so that he can add flashing. Before your your builder lays the decking on the framing he will put flashing up against the house that comes down like an "L" and overlaps the framing, later the decking and siding will cover it up. The flashing will keep the moisture from rain/snow/wet leaf piles/etc. from entering your house or just rotting it away at that attachment point.
Down the road, when you need to replace the siding, doing it this way will save headaches/shortcuts when trying to remove/attach new siding. Other reasons would include the possibility of disturbing the drain tile or footers while pouring a pier pad for the posts closest to the house. If you move the rear beam away from the house to deal with this, and you have any windows or doors to look out of under the deck, things will just look sloppy. Attaching will also improve stability of the deck and cost less in materials and labor. |